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Ever since Apple Inc. muscled into the smartphone market, it’s been all ‘iPhone this, and iPhone that’ as the trendy touch-screen device forced existing handset makers from the limelight.
Another Storm in a smartphone-shaped teacup? Image: RIM.
However, not to be outdone, Canadian smartphone specialist Research In Motion (RIM) is preparing a revamped version of its million-selling BlackBerry Storm handset in the hopes of taking some of the shine off the iPhone.
Described as something of a “biggie” by RIM bigwig Jim Balsillie in a related interview, news of the BlackBerry Storm2 smartphone may surprise some in the industry given the largely cold critical reception that met the original Storm when it launched in late 2008.
In terms of what RIM fans can expect from the Storm2, the device will have a clickable touch-screen user interface (just like the Storm) but will, according to RIM, improve upon original features such as typing and multi-touch – two aspects criticised on its BlackBerry-branded predecessor.
Other core specifications attached to the Storm2 include 256MBs of memory, 2GBs of data storage, BlackBerry 5.0 software, a virtual QWERTY keyboard, 3G network support, and Wi-Fi connectivity – which was inexplicably missing on the original phone.
Details regarding regional availability and pricing have not yet been divulged. That being said, Wall Street Journal tech expert Walt Mossberg expects the BlackBerry Storm2 to hit in November attached to a cost of around $200 USD.
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